Gerald Smith “Jerry” Eyre

Wednesday

Nov 7, 2012 at 4:23 PMNov 7, 2012 at 4:26 PM

1931-2012

1931-2012

Gerald Smith “Jerry” Eyre died Oct. 15, 2012. He was 81.A private family graveside service will take place at the Independence Cemetery Dist. 17 on Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. in Independence.Jerry was born July 15, 1931 in Lovell, Big Horn, Wyo. to Orton Berdette and Helen Lovevoize Smith Eyre. The Eyre family moved to Randsburg in 1935. Jerry was one of seven children. His father was employed at the famous Yellow Aster Gold Mine in Randsburg as a hard rock miner.A strike closed the mine in 1940/1941, so the Eyre family moved ro Ridgecrest and lived for a short time in one of the Joe Fox properties situated near what is now the IWV Water District office.Jerry’s father found employment at the American Potash and Chemical Company in Trona, now called Searles Valley Minerals.The family moved to Trona in 1942, when Jerry attended the Trona School System until he graduated from high school.Jerry married Mary Ann Beach of Ridgecrest.The marriage was blessed with three sons Jerry, Vince and Brad.Jerry was employed as a line mechanic, new car prep tech and, before illness, forced his early retirement, he had attained a service management position both at the Ford and Chevrolet dealerships.The entire Jerry Eyre family enjoyed the same hobbies and interests: Motorcycles, sprint cars, jalopy races and as members of the Dust Devils Sand Busters and other clubs. They enjoyed the competitions, race meets and the social activities those clubs were famous for.At the time of his death, Jerry was a patient at the Shadow Hills Convalescent Hospital in Sunland, where he had been a patient for the last eight years.The wonderful hospice group called “Care of the Valley” was with Jerry at the time of his death.